Canon Taepa and Miss Ryan with Mrs Vera Morgan, President of the Poneke branch of the Maori Women's Welfare League and also a member of Altrusa. Sir Richard Wild, and Lady Wild; the Mayor of Wellington, Sir Francis Kitts, and Lady Kitts. Mr Rata spoke at the dinner and said he expected to be in a position soon, to advise that additional land under consideration for the new marae had been made available. It had been anticipated that the building of the new marae would start in June and many Wellington citizens, particularly the Chairman of the Building Fund Appeal, Mr Duff Daysh, have expressed their disappointment that this has been postponed. Mr Daysh was unable to attend the dinner but in sending his apology said that he was concerned about the delay. The Altrusa Club of Wellington is one of many organisations which have made tremendous efforts to raise funds for the new marae, which is to be built at the Northern entrance to the city, on Thorndon Quay. These organisations include many Maori groups and there is also a long list of private citizens who have made donations to the appeal fund. The land for the proposed marae is just below Old St Paul's, an historic area of Wellington which is of considerable significance to the Maori people. Cabinet has now approved a land transfer adding 2 roods 6.5 perches to the existing site of 1 rood 2.3 perches already held by the club, and this should enable the building to be started. We are all concerned that Ngati Poneke should have its new home in the very near future.